WHAT WOULD DR. KING SAY?

Dolores J. Whiters, First Vice-President, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Illinois State Conference of BranchesCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Jan. 15 is the 70th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Jan. 18 will be the 14th commemorative observance of a national holiday in his honor. As would be and should be expected, there will be numerous programs, celebrations and gala affairs held in churches, schools, banquet halls and hotels. These will undoubtedly include renditions and excerpts of Dr. King's speeches.

But lately, when I reflect upon Dr. King, I wonder, would Dr. King be content with all of the gala events held in his honor? I wonder, would this man, who devoted every breath of his adult life to securing justice, a dignified way of life and a righteous world for all, be pleased with often being portrayed as no more than a docile folk hero?

Dr. King said that he only wanted to do God's will. And he did just that. But, he was not docile--he was a warrior, he was a general, he was a prince. So, no matter how many black-tie affairs we might profess to attend in honor of Dr. King, if we don't individually endeavor to enrich the lives of children and to eradicate the pervasive ignorance, poverty and bias that prevails in this county, I wonder, would Dr. King say thanks or no thanks?

And no matter how many outstanding financial contributions are made in the name of Dr. King by corporations to African-American organizations, if, within those same corporations, in order to maintain their employment, African-Americans are driven to perform at a higher level than their counterparts of European descent, I wonder, would Dr. King say thanks or no thanks?

And no matter how many brothers--young, middle-age, old, nationalist, conservative, liberal, upper class, lower class--trumpet the virtues and merits of Dr. King, if the neglect and non-involvement of that brother in his child's life contributes to a black child forced to fend for himself or herself, I wonder, would Dr. King say thanks or no thanks?

And no matter how many overwhelming numbers of African-American politicians we elect or black Supreme Court justices may be appointed, if those politicians and justices don't use their positions to right the wrongs by changing the agendas, but instead help to maintain the status quo by making decisions that contribute to keeping people of color at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, I wonder, would Dr. King say thanks or no thanks?

And no matter how many newspapers cover events honoring Dr. King, even with headlines exalting him as the greatest black-American leader ever, if they continue to convey and promote negative portrayals of African people as an ethnic group that is doomed to be poor, helpless, ignorant, criminal, or as spoilers of neighborhoods, or drug dealers or addicts, I wonder, would Dr. King say thanks or no thanks?

And no matter how many functions we might sponsor in the name of Dr. King, if we continue to bicker and demonstrate contempt for one another or act as if we have lost sight of the true purpose of civil-rights organizations, I wonder, would Dr. King say thanks or no thanks?